KANSAS CITY, Mo. –- The Coalition Against Arena Taxes, whose members include local car rental operators and managers, is mounting a campaign against the city's $4-a-day rental tax measure aimed at financing a new downtown sports arena. Voters will decide the issue on Aug. 3.
The ballot measure, Question 1, also calls for a $1.50-per-night hotel tax. Backed by Mayor Kay Barnes, the proposed arena would seat 18,000 to 20,000 people. The arena's price tag is estimated at $225 million to $250 million, 60% of which would come from public funding. Supporters of the arena plan argue it will help attract an NBA or NHL franchise and help revitalize the downtown area.
But opponents of the arena financing plan counter that it unfairly places the tax burden on car rental customers –- a group that will not directly benefit from construction of the arena.
"When a civic project is proposed to benefit the entire community, then the entire community should figure out ways to pay for it," said Pat Farrell, vice president of corporate communications for Enterprise Rent-A-Car. "That's what sales taxes, municipal bond issues and property taxes are for. But instead, they are singling out this industry's customers to foot the bill for something that has nothing to do with them."
What's more, Mayor Barnes has characterized the rental tax as a tax on tourists. However, the tax measure includes no exemption for local residents.
For details about the campaign to defeat the tax, visit the homepage of the Coalition Against Arena Taxes at stoptaxonkc.
